Hawaiian Plants with Beneficial Effects on Sleep, Anxiety, and Mood, etc.

Abstract

Diverse chemical messengers are responsible for maintaining homeostasis in the human body, for example, hormones and neurotransmitters. Various Hawaiian plant species produce compounds that exert effects on these messengers and the systems of which they are a part. The main purpose of this review article is to evaluate the potential effects of Hawaiian plants on reducing pain and anxiety and improving sleep and mood. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in SciFinder, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Scientific Information Database between 2019 and 2023 to identify related articles. Results indicate that several Hawaiian plant species, such as M. citrifolia and P. methysticum, have medicinal properties associated with these effects. These plants have been used in traditional Hawaiian cultural practices for centuries, suggesting their potential to benefit human health and well-being. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of the available evidence concerning the potential impacts of Hawaiian plants on sleep, anxiety, mood, and pain.

Phytochemistry and Biological Studies of Endemic Hawaiian Plants

“…Furthermore, P. distichus exhibits potent antimicrobial activity against various bacteria and fungi and holds potential as a therapeutic agent for diabetes mellitus due to its hypoglycemic and antidiabetic properties [51][52][53]. P. albidus exhibits antiviral, antibacterial, and potentially anticancer properties, making it a promising subject for scientific investigation [25,54,57,58,61,62]. P. campanulata contains alkaloids with documented antiviral and antifungal activity [64].…”

“…The plant is unique to the Hawaiian Islands and holds cultural significance in traditional Hawaiian medicine and herbal practices. P. albidus has been traditionally used by the native Hawaiians for various medicinal purposes, including general debility, aid for the expectant mother, blood purifier, mild laxative [54][55][56][57][58]. P. albidus, a culturally significant plant in Hawaii, has been traditionally used for woodworking, textile production, and medicine.…”

“…P. albidus has a history of medicinal use, with leaves and fruits used to treat various ailments [57]. It is often brewed into an herbal tea [54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61], which is believed to have calming and healing properties as well as to treat various ailments, including stomach and liver problems [55]. In addition, the consumption of P. albidus teas was believed to have potential health benefits, such as reducing cholesterol levels, regulating blood glucose levels, and lowering blood pressure [57,61].…”

“…Beyond its medicinal applications, the bark of P. albidus serves as a substitute for wauke (paper mulberry) in the creation of kapa or bark cloth, while its roots are harnessed for natural dyeing purposes. Lastly, the fruit of P. albidus is situated beneath the leaves of the plant [58].…”